Cheering the Chesapeake

It may be below freezing with another ice storm on the way, but now is a good time to celebrate one of the most valuable venues in the State of Maryland - our Chesapeake Bay.

It was showcased this weekend in the 15th Annual Polar Bear Plunge, sponsored by the Maryland State Police.The event is the largest fundraiser in the state for Special Olympics Maryland, a year-round organization to provide sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities

The Merry Marketeers didn't plunge this year, since the Turn Ten didn't send their usual busload of daring divers.  But our intrepid quarterback, Joe Cool, not only served as honorary chair of the event, but took another dip in the drink to show his support.

Sandy Point is a state-owned park which can accommodate thousands for any number of activities, which includes festivals, concerts, and water related competitions.  (This is where the Chesapeake Bay Swim, a challenge that brings competitive swimmers from all over the country, is staged.)  But on this cold January day, it celebrates the hardy and warm-hearted (along with festive weirdos) who gather for a very special cause.

While jumping in the Bay at the balmy 33 degrees (you should have been there last year when it was snowing and the sand was frozen!) isn't for everyone, there were other Bay celebrants enjoying their own annual ritual -- the Baltimore Boat Show, held at the Convention Center.

The annual event serves as a mid-winter reminder that boating season will soon be upon us (albeit not soon enough.)  It unveils what is new and exciting in recreational boating, but also features family boats, fishing skiffs, and those exciting vroom-vroom fiberglass skimmers who race on the Bay and tributaries every year.  It also offered seminars, exhibits, and plenty of shopping.

I wish we could calculate the economic impact of the Bay as a sports and recreation venue and tourist attraction.  We track a lot of activities in Sports Marketing -- sailboat races, fishing tournaments, boat charters, hydrofoil challenges, open water swims, etc.  But that doesn't count all the ancillary operations, like restaurants, hotels, boat and kayak rentals, marinas and services that the venue supports.  In truth, our Bay could perhaps be our most profitable facility in revenues produced and jobs generated.

So even if you aren't up for jumping into it in January, stop for a moment to appreciate this marvelous resource that just keeps producing for us, all year long.  And make a point to spend some quality time there when the weather gets just a little warmer.